(April 25, 2022) Tonkawa, Oklahoma - Coming off three splits last week, two in Region II, the Bucks were heading into the last full week of the season looking to make a push toward the Region II Tournament. Currently, the Bucks were sitting in seventh place in the region. After today's doubleheader with NOC-Tonkawa, the Bucks have three very important home doubleheaders with NOC-Enid, Connors State, and Eastern remaining on the schedule. The Bucks split with NOC-Tonkawa last week at home. 

GAME ONE

The Bucks would score in five of the seven innings in the rubber match between the Mavericks starting in the first inning. After a pair of walks to start the game and a 2 out walk, Chloe Ray (Fort Smith, AR) walked to open the scoring that allowed the Bucks to take a 1-0 lead. In the second inning, a walk and single led off the inning. Kristen McMillan (Winnsboro, TX) would then hit a RBI single to center field to plate a run with 1 out. After the second out, Jah'Kaiya Woods (Little Rock, AR) score on a passed ball that made it 3-0 after two innings.

The Bucks then had a pair of 2-run innings in the third and fourth. With a runner on in the third and 2 outs, Sydney Smith (Siloam Springs, AR) hit a 2-run bomb to right field. In the next inning, Presleigh Payne (Grapevine, TX) duplicated Smith's effort with a homer of her own. The Mavericks did score 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning. The Bucks last run of the day came in the top of the sixth inning on a Blaire Gentry (Lockesburg, AR) RBI dobule to center field that made it 8-3, which would be the final score.

Blaire Gentry (12-8) picked up the win in the circle with a complete game (7.0 innings). In the outing, she would give up 3 runs on 10 hits, while striking out 4 and walking a pair. 

GAME TWO

The Bucks looked to keep the momentum going and were wanting the season series win. Caitlyn Mayo (Bigelow, AR) got the start in the circle for the Bucks and pitched three straight scoreless innings. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Mavericks scored 5 runs to take a 5-0 lead off the right hander. The Bucks did fight back in the top of the fifth inning and plated a pair of runs on a Madelynn Lacaze (Gladewater, TX) 2-RBI single to center field to make it 5-2, but the Mavericks added a run in the bottom half to make it 6-2, which would be the final score.

Caitlyn Mayo (9-10) took the loss in her 5.0 innings of work, giving up 6 runs (4 earned) on 8 hits. She also struck out a pair on the day. Brookelyn Coffey (Sims, AR) pitched the final inning for the Bucks.

The Bucks are back in action on Thursday, April 28th, at home against NOC-Enid. First pitch is scheduled for 2 pm.

#GOBUCKS